Electric fireplace



Dec. 15, 1931. A. PRITZKER ELECTRIC FIREPLACE Filed June 14. 1950 Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ASHER PRITZKER, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA ELECTRIC FIREPLACE Application filed June 14,

My invention relates to improvements in electric fire places, designed and adapted to be electrically illuminated in such a way as to simulate the appearance of a grate of live coals in association with a heater for the purpose of disseminating heat which will serve to warm the room wherein the grate is located.

The invention is directed to the provision of a body of translucent or transparent colored material intermediate the source of light and the blocks of glass ordinarily used in this art, supported upon or held in place, by sheets of uncolored glass, which sheets are 5 preferably reinforced by wire embedded therein, though the reinforcing of these sheets of glass is not essential. Located so as to intercept light rays passing through said translucent or transparent colored body is any suitable means, operated by the ascending current of heated air so as to intercept light rays from the source of light and thereby impart a flickering effect to the fuel, and thus simulate the flicker of the flames from burning fuel, and in the following specification and the drawings forming part thereof, I shall describe and illustrate a disclosure within my invention, and what I claim as new will be set forth in the claim forming part of this specification.

Fig. l is a vertical cross section through a suitable type of grate structure, showing my invention embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the electric lamps used as a source of light, with which is combined the preferred form of body of translucent or transparent colored material, which body is shown in section, together with suitable means to hold the same in association with the bulb of said lamp, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of a collar mounted on the fixture for said lamp, and which provides a closure means for the outer end of the preferred form of said transparent or translucent colored body. and a stop to determine the position of said colored body on said bulb.

In the drawings, like characters of reference refer to the same parts.

The same effect I desire to procure, can be had by making the bulb of the electric lamp 1930. Serial No. 461,199.

itself of colored glass, but as good glass bulbs, colored, are relatively expensive, I have found it cheaper to interpose between the uncolored glass bulb of the electric lamp and the means to cause the flicker which is in the form of a hot-air fan, the colored member which is translucent or transparent, and therefore it must be understood that the disclosure herein is merely a preferred form of my invention, and is not to be considered as limiting the scope of my claim.

The grate structure comprises what I might term a basket 2 mounted on suit-able legs 3, and located within the said basket is one or more uncolored electric light bulbs 4, which bulbs are mounted in any suitable socket 5 supported by the grate structure. 6 is a centrally-apertured collar. preferably of metal, coupled to the socket 5 by means of spaced plates 7 which extend longitudinally of the said socket and more or less closely in contact therewith. The opening through this collar is somewhat less in diameter than the diameter of the inner end of the socket 5 and therefore this collar will be stopped from outward movement by contact with the said socket. Of course the base of the bulb 4 is passed through the opening in said collar for coupling with the socket 5. 8 is the member of translucent or transparent material, preferably glass, colored so that light rays passing therethrough will be colored preferably amber. In the drawings, the member 8 is shown substantially cup-shaped in form, and the same is provided near its outer end with an internal annular groove 9 in which is located a wire ring 10 provided with spring arms 11. When the member 8 is passed over the bulb 4, the said spring arms are depressed. and in due course assume the position shown in Fig. 2, and so prevent the accidental withdrawal of the member 8 from said bulb. The member 8 and the wire ring of course are well-known in the art. The member 8 comes in contact with the inner side of the collar 6, and therefore its further movement towards the socket5 is limited. The collar 6 is so located that the spring arms 11 will exert pressure against the bulb 4t and so prevent the rattling of the member 8. Since this colla r 6 is imperforate, except for the central opening, which, when the parts are in the I position shown in Fig. 2, is closedylight withgrate structure and the said front is comin the member 8 cannot escape through the open end of this member, and must pass through the walls thereof. 7

12 is the floor of the grate structure, and

carried thereby is the support 13 carrying as a U-shaped channel 17 which is carried by the floor 12. The QDClS'Df the wall 16 are mounted between the vertical portions 18 of the saidjchannel; The wall 16 is spaced the desired distance apart from the front of the posed of a plurality of spaced ribs 19, a construction very Well-known 'in this art. 20

.are'the blocks of glass or other suitable material' filling the space between the ribs 19 and the wall 16. These blocks may be made of transparent'or opaque material, and the sa'memay be colored or not as desired. 21 is a plate of uncolored transparent glass, or

equivalent material, which forms the top of the bulb'chamber, and the same rests upon the wall 16, at itsforward end and at the back'and sides of the "grate. it rests upon brackets 22. The blocks 23 of material like unto-the blocks 20 are placed uponthe plate 21 asvshown in the drawin s.

J I u V In thlsart, it 18 common to use sheets or platesof re nforced glass, colored'red, so that the li ht ra s fiSSlIlfl' therethroiwh will color J. o t:

-.the'false' coal so as to give'the effect of a glowing fire. But from very careful investigation and experiment, I have found that much superior effects are obtained in simulating the burning coal'if the Wall 16 and plate 21 be made of transparent uncolored glass, and a colored transparent member be located betweenthe electric source of light.

and the hot-air fan.

As is well-known, the heatedair rotates I the fan15, and as the vanes of this fan, during rotation thereof intercept rays of colored light that have passed through the member 8; and desired flicker effect will be obtained with the result that thefalse coal in the grate will have the appearance of a burn- 7 ing coal fire.

striking against the inclined surfaces of the vanes thereof will be diverted in various directions particularly downwardly outwardly.

' Anelectric heater maybe associated with a grate embodying my invention, in any suitzable way. According to my preferred form c :of constructiom lshow the heater'indic'ated 25 of the grate structure. 7

as a whole 24 and carried by the back wall What I claim as my invention is:

An electric fire place comprising a suitable grate structure; a wall of transparent uncolored material supported within said grate structure and spaced apart from the front walltliereof; aplate located above said wall and supported Within said grate structure, and having the same characteristics of the first-mentioned wall; blocks of suitable material located within-sai-d grate structure and backed by said'transparent wall and plate; an uncolored electric light bulb; a socket supporting same; a suitably colored glass housing for said bulb having an open inner end; means impervious to thepassage of light rays therethrough mounted on said bulb at the'inner end thereof against which the open end of said colored housing rests so as to close the same; means whereby said transparent. housing is positively held in contact with said closure means and a hot'air fan pivotally mounted within said grate structure and a hot-air fan pivotally mounted within said grate structure and above said colored glass housing, for the purpose specified.

ASHER PRITZKER.

. he fa'n15 is made of alun1i11um,jor some other polished metal and therefore light rays 

